I’m living and working overseas

Features

This stream is for migrants living and working overseas and who have an occupation that has been identified as in shortage in Queensland.

Nominations are offered under the following visa subclasses:

Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190)

This visa is for skilled workers who wish to live and work in Queensland permanently.

Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)

This visa is a provisional visa that allows nominated skilled workers to work and live in regional Queensland for four years, and is a pathway to permanent residency. Employment can be undertaken in the following ways:

Work for one or more employers

Two part time jobs

Be self employed/own your own business.

Applicable regions

Excludes Greater Brisbane Area and the Gold Coast. Includes the following postcodes: 4124 to 4125, 4133, 4211, 4270 to 4272, 4275, 4280, 4285, 4287, 4307 to 4499, 4515, 4517 to 4519, 4522 to 4899.

If you are a current holder of a Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) you will not be eligible for nomination for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190).

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for Queensland nomination, you must meet both the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) criteria and Business and Skilled Migration Queensland (BSMQ) criteria for your chosen visa category.

The DHA criteria requires you to:

have a points test result of 65 or higher, inclusive of state nomination points

have a positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation

meet the minimum English language requirement of COMPETENT, unless a higher level is required by your assessing authority

provide evidence that you have a minimum of 2 years post-qualification work experience in your nominated occupation. More experience may be required for certain occupations

commit to living and working in Queensland from the date that you arrive in Queensland to live permanently

offshore applicants applying under a Cook or Chef occupation must show evidence of a minimum 12 month job offer with a Queensland employer registered in Australia. The job offer must be related to your occupation, and evidence is required showing acceptance of the offer.

Please note: if you are an overseas PhD graduate, you may be eligible for a work experience requirement waiver if you have a minimum 12 month job offer with a Queensland employer registered in Australia. The job offer must be related to your occupation, and evidence is required showing acceptance of the offer.

Labour hire employment

If you are employed through a Labour Hire company please make sure that they are registered in Queensland. All labour hire providers operating in Queensland need to be licensed under the new Labour Hire Licencing Act 2017 – including, those based interstate or overseas who supply workers in Queensland.

All existing labour hire companies operating in Queensland had until 15 June 2018 to comply with new registration requirements. Evidence that companies comply with these registration requirements will be required.

Application process

Step 1: Review your eligibility criteria, visa conditions and document checklist on the DHA website and the BSMQ website. Ensure you meet both the DHA criteria and BSMQ criteria, and have all your documentation (including proof of registration if required for your particular occupation) ready before you apply.

Step 2: For Queensland State nomination, submit an EOI with SkillSelect. Please ensure all information, such as work experience, is included in your EOI. Preference will be given to applicants who select “Queensland” as their nominating state of choice over applicants who select ‘ANY’ state.

Step 3: BSMQ assesses all EOIs that meet the DHA and BSMQ criteria. If you are successful, will receive an email invitation to lodge an application and be requested to provide the BSMQ required documents. Documents are to be uploaded electronically, through the Document Portal link provided in your invitation email. We no longer accept attachments sent to us by email.

BSMQ will review your application and may request further information.

Please note: you will be given 14 days to finalise your application from the date of invitation. If you are unable to provide the relevant information within this time frame, you must seek an extension from BSMQ. Applications not finalised within time frames will be closed and applicants will need to submit a new EOI if they wish to re-seek Queensland nomination.

Step 5: Once your completed BSMQ application is received and approved, you will receive an invitation from the DHA to lodge your visa application. You will be given 60 days to lodge your application with the DHA.

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